I'm making a lot of this up and am working on it just about every free minute. I have six 2-week old chicks in the basement and run into questions/issues everyday, given my lack of construction knowledge.
The photo below shows the play structure after we cut a middle 2x4 to create a side of the coop for double doors. At this point, the second level still had a "ceiling." Soon after, we realized it was rotted and had to be removed.
This photo shows the opposite side from the door opening that we call the nesting box side. We used two store-bought boxes. We also cut the middle 2x4 on this side and added a 2x4 across to strengthen the side. It was useful for securing the sheathing in the center since the distance across is about 40 inches. We also used the bottom part of the middle 2x4 as a supportive post for the nesting boxes.
This inside view shows the linoleum floor. On the left, the center opening is where the children's slide used to be and where we think an automatic coop door will be for the chix. The roof board on the left raised the front side of the coop for a single-slope roof that will angle to the rear.
I have a question about cutting ventilation windows when there's double-walled construction with insulation. I already have the inside sheathing attached. Should I cut the windows now on the inside sheathing and try to match the window opening size on the outside wall? Or should I add the insulation and outside wall and cut through all layers with a reciprocating saw? That sounds crazy hard!
This was the play structure a few months ago!
And here are the chicks:
The photo below shows the play structure after we cut a middle 2x4 to create a side of the coop for double doors. At this point, the second level still had a "ceiling." Soon after, we realized it was rotted and had to be removed.
This photo shows the opposite side from the door opening that we call the nesting box side. We used two store-bought boxes. We also cut the middle 2x4 on this side and added a 2x4 across to strengthen the side. It was useful for securing the sheathing in the center since the distance across is about 40 inches. We also used the bottom part of the middle 2x4 as a supportive post for the nesting boxes.
This inside view shows the linoleum floor. On the left, the center opening is where the children's slide used to be and where we think an automatic coop door will be for the chix. The roof board on the left raised the front side of the coop for a single-slope roof that will angle to the rear.
I have a question about cutting ventilation windows when there's double-walled construction with insulation. I already have the inside sheathing attached. Should I cut the windows now on the inside sheathing and try to match the window opening size on the outside wall? Or should I add the insulation and outside wall and cut through all layers with a reciprocating saw? That sounds crazy hard!
This was the play structure a few months ago!
And here are the chicks:
